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WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 3, 2010

HISTORY WAS MADE – AT 9:27 P.M. ET:  This is another subject we brought up this morning – the absence of major network interest in Susana Martinez, elected in New Mexico last night as the first latina ever to run a state government.

Why the lack of interest?

Could it be that she's...pro-life?  A devoted Christian?  You don't think...?

I've always believed that Sarah Palin would have been treated far more kindly by the media had she uttered four words in 2008:  "I am pro choice."  But she never spoke the words.

Now Susana Martinez, who made history last night, is being conspicuously ignored.  (If I'm wrong on this, alert me to her national appearances.  I haven't seen any.)

But she did appear on local TV to make her acceptance speech, and I thought you'd like to see it.  It's here. 

Oh, by the way, she's also anti-illegal-immigration.  Can't have that, can we?  I mean, she really can't be a legitimate woman, can she? 

Yes she can.

November 3, 2010      Permalink

MORE ON CALIFORNIA – AT 8:51 P.M. ET:  We did a post this morning asking what was wrong with California.  I've monitored news networks during the day, and, remarkably, they are talking about the same thing.  California was a major center of discussion.

One pundit said that everyone is talking about the state because it's so important.  Let me dissent.  California was important, but I think it's becoming increasingly less so.  There simply comes a point where a state starts acting so irrationally that a large part of the political class writes it off.  In this case, I would imagine that the Republican Party is, at least psychologically, writing off California.

Republicans couldn't make inroads into California in this, the most Republican year in memory.  The California House delegation was barely dented.  It is still filled with left-wing eccentrics and Castroites.  Think Maxine Waters.  Think Pete Stark, who gets into fights on the House floor.  Think Nancy Pelosi.  Think Barbara Lee, the only member of Congress to vote against military action after 9-11.  And think Barbara Boxer. 

And these clowns get elected while the state sinks into bankruptcy and irrelevance.  Companies are leaving California in droves.  It no longer has an aircraft industry.  Even the entertainment industry looks elsewhere to make its films.

California's most prominent export is Code Pink. 

California has developed a flaky, dependent culture.  "California, Here I Come," has become a joke. 

The Republican Party may well abandon California, just turn its back and let the state sink.  There's a limit to patience with this childlike piece of property.  All federal money bills originate in the House of Representatives, now under firm GOP control.  I don't think there'll be any incentive to write checks to a gang of delinquents.

It's really too bad.  This was the state that Ronald Reagan ran.  But it was also a state that adopted too much of the sixties culture. 

Grow up, guys.  The whole world is watching, and falling asleep.

November 3, 2010      Permalink

IT AIN'T OVER – AT 7:49 P.M. ET:  They're still counting. 

Michael Bennet has now clearly won in the Colorado Senate race, defeating tea partier Ken Buck, whose mouth never helped him.

In Alaska, the Democratic candidate for the Senate, Scott McAdams, has pulled out, leaving the count to between Republican candidate and tea partier Joe Miller and incumbent Republican Senator Lisa Murkowski, running as a write-in.  It looks, at this hour, with virtually all votes counted, that Murkowski has it, and will be the first Senate write-in candidate to win since Strom Thurmond.  This is not good news for Sarah Palin.  The Murkowskis and Palin have a blood feud, stemming from Sarah's defeating Murkowski's father for the gubernatorial nomination.  Sarah backed Joe Miller in the current Senate race. 

So Sarah now has a powerful Republican power base in Alaska willing to do anything to end her career.  Not a great way to enter the presidential sweepstakes.

Most fascinating is Washington state, which uses mail-in ballots.  Early this morning the count was dead even.  Now incumbent Dem Senator Patty Murray has pulled slightly ahead, but we are cautioned that these new votes are coming from Democratic areas.  Although Murray leads 51-49% at this hour, the election is still too close to call.  A new batch of numbers should come later tonight. 

November 3, 2010      Permalink 

HAS BUCK BUCKLED? – AT 11:23 A.M. ET:  The Denver Post is calling the Colorado Senate race for incumbent Democrat Michael Bennet over Republican tea partier Ken Buck.

However, please be aware that no other major organization, to the best of our knowledge, is joining in the call.  If Buck does go down, however, he'll be the third major tea party candidate to be defeated in a race that the GOP could have won.  The others are Sharron Angle in Nevada and Christine O'Donnell in Delaware.  And if Joe Miller goes down in Alaska, as now expected, that will be four. 

Some serious thinking about candidate quality may well be in order.

November 3, 2010      Permalink

DO THESE PEOPLE EVER LEARN? – AT 9:54 A.M. ET:  Believe it or not, many liberal pundits are back at the same old stand this morning, having learned nothing.  They're not practicing politics, they're practicing a religion:

From E.J. Dionne Jr.:  "Conservatives believe in freedom for the corporate sector, in limiting what the federal government does and in tax cuts for the best-off. Progressives believe in a government that promotes modestly more equality, regulates business in the public interest and sees public action as promoting American competitiveness. This election didn't change that. It is a setback for progressives, not a permanent defeat."

What a simplistic, idealized view of "progressives."  Maybe Dionne can explain what's "progressive" about shoving a health-care bill down the throats of a public shouting its opposition. 

And then there's the once-rational Peter Beinart:  "The Republicans have taken refuge in an anti-government ideology premised on the lunatic notion that America is the only truly free and successful country in the world."

Huh?  Do you remember any Republican ever saying that?  Beinart, like most self-proclaimed "progressive" intellectuals, is intent on putting down American exceptionalism.  He might try to examine what it means rather than just ridiculing the notion. 

And, by the way, it might be helpful for "progressives" to cool the rhetoric and discard terms like "lunatic," or "dumb" or "extremist."  People have stopped listening.

November 3, 2010      Permalink

ONLY IN AMERICA – AT 9:25 A.M. ET:  Two Hispanics became major national figures last night, and we may well see one or both of them on national tickets.

In Florida, there was enormous press interest in one man – Marco Rubio, the newly elected Republican senator, and the son of Cuban immigrants.  Rubio got nearly 50% of the vote in a three-man race, a rare statistical achievement.  When he's interviewed the words "future national candidate" come to mind.  He's articulate, informed, and positive.  Although he has a clear conservative point of view, he, like Reagan, advances his position with a gentle touch.  Watch him.  All those cameras weren't there for nothing.

And in New Mexico, Susana Martinez became the first latina to be elected governor of an American state.  A lawyer and prosecutor, a highly educated woman, she's received far less publicity than she's deserved.  But watch her.  If the news networks were smart – an interesting proposition – they'd get her for interviews. 

So, the two most prominent Hispanic political figures in America this morning are Republicans.  Somehow, that wasn't in the Democratic Party script.  And what does it portend for the future?  That parties must not take ethnic groups for granted.  They eventually figure it out.

November 3, 2010      Permalink

WHAT IS IT ABOUT CALIFORNIA? – AT 9:10 A.M. ET:   Is California suicidal?  Is there a psychological problem?  Or are there so many adolescent votes in Hollywood that they overwhelm the rest of the state? 

Here is a state that is essentially bankrupt, going down the drain, a wreck, losing industry, losing everything that made it "the golden state," and the people went joyfully to the polls yesterday and elected the same people who drove the knife in.  Jerry Brown, who was governor in the era of Lincoln, is governor again.  In California, the sequel is still big.  Barbara Boxer, whose main issue during her three terms was getting people to call her "senator" rather than "ma'am," was strongly reelected.

California rejected sanity and embraced fantasy.  Soon to be a minor motion picture.

And what is Nancy Pelosi's reaction to all this?  As congresswoman from the San Francisco gulag, she's got a safe seat, although she's no longer speaker.  She issued a statement last night:

"Over the last four years, the Democratic Majority in the House took courageous action on behalf of America's middle class to create jobs and save the country from the worst economic catastrophe since the Great Depression.

"Our Members and candidates ran remarkable campaigns led by the superb leadership of DCCC Chairman Chris Van Hollen.

"The outcome of the election does not diminish the work we have done for the American people. We must all strive to find common ground to support the middle class, create jobs, reduce the deficit and move our nation forward."

COMMENT:  She did not congratulate the Republicans.  Incredible. 

There is no word on whether Nancy will remain in the House in a leadership position, simply take her seat and become a private first class, or resign from the body. 

California is no better off today than it was yesterday.  Maybe the Dem majority out there thinks that Congress will save the state if it goes under.  No, my California friends.  Ain't gonna happen.  This isn't a Saturday morning serial.  It's "Titanic."

November 3, 2010      Permalink

WILL THEY RESPECT US IN THE MORNING? - AT 8:17 A.M. ET:  Wasn't I at this same desk a few hours ago?  Oh yes, I remember the Mac computer and all the little notes about the latest Dem to be applying for retirement benefits.

But it ain't over.  At this hour three Senate races – Colorado, Washington state, and Alaska, are still undecided.

In Colorado, with 87% of the vote counted, incumbent Democrat Michael Bennet leads Republican Ken Buck, 48-47 percent.  This one likely will be recounted no matter who wins the initial count.

In Washington state, which uses mail ballots, counting resumes today.  At last report, with only 62% of the votes tabulated, incumbent Senator Patty Murray and Republican Dino Rossi are tied.  It may be days before we have a clear result.

In Alaska, incredibly, incumbent Senator Lisa Murkowski, defeated in the Republican primary but running as a write-in, has 41% of the vote, to Republican Joe Miller's 34%, and Democrat Scott McAdams's 24%.  We don't have a report on percentage of the vote in.

A number of House races remain undecided.  According to RealClearPolitics, Republicans have a sure gain of 59 seats (Politico says 60), but that is likely to go higher, possibly to 65, when all results are in. 

November 3, 2010     Permalink

TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 2, 2010

1:48 A.M. ET:  We are signing off for the night and will be back in about six hours. 

1:47 A.M. ET:  Fox News is projecting a possible 65-vote gain for the GOP in the House, pending further counting.

1:46 A.M. ET:  Vote counting has stopped for the night in Washington state, where the Senate race between Dino Rossi and Democratic incumbent Patty Murray is very close.  However, political observers believe that Rossi hasn't done well enough in certain precincts to prevail.  We'll see when the count continues tomorrow.

In Colorado, with 74% of the vote in, Republican Ken Buck leads Democratic incumbent Senator Michael Bennet, 48-47%.

In Alaska, write-in candidate and incumbent Republican Senator Lisa Murkowski is actually ahead of the Republivan and Democratic candidates, but the reporting is confused, and we don't even know what percent of the vote is in.

12:56 A.M. ET:  BULLETIN:  CNN NOW PROJECTS THE REPUBLICANS WILL PICK UP AT LEAST 60 SEATS IN THE HOUSE, THE LARGEST SWING SINCE 1948.

12:28 A.M. ET:  BULLETIN:  IN A MAJOR DISAPPOINTMENT, FOX NEWS PROJECTS THAT SENATE MAJORITY LEADER HARRY REID OF NEVADA HAS BEEN REELECTED, DEFEATING SHARRON ANGLE. 

There will be great soul-searching about this race.  Reid was a goner earlier this year.  But Sharron Angle, with Tea Party backing, won the Republican nomination.  To some, she seemed wacky and out of the mainstream, and the image stuck.  The Republican advantage collapsed.  The Republicans could have done better.

12:27 A.M. ET:  Republican Susana Martinez has been elected governor of New Mexico, the first Latina to be elected governor of an American state. 

12:24 A.M. ET:  Republican John Kasich has been elected governor of Ohio, an absolutely critical state in the 2012 presidential election.

12:21 A.M. ET: FOX NEWS DECLARES REPUBLICAN MARK KIRK THE WINNER IN THE ILLINOIS SENATE RACE, TAKING THE SEAT HELD BY BARACK OBAMA.  YIPPEE, YIPPEE, YIPPEE. 

11:50 P.M. ET:  BULLETIN:  REAL CLEAR POLITICS DECLARES PAT TOOMEY THE WINNER IN THE PENNSYLVANIA SENATE RACE, DEFEATING DEMOCRAT JOE SESTAK.

11:44 P.M. ET:  Much of the TV commentary tonight runs along these lines:  The Republicans are doing very well in the House, but are putting in a disappointing performance in the Senate.

Not so fast, guys.  Critical Senate seats are still out – in Illinois, Pennsylvania, Colorado, Nevada, Washington state and Alaska.  While Republicans won't take control of the Senate, they'll be more powerful than they are now, with the ability to filibuster reckless legislation. 

We're watching those outstanding Senate seats.

11:25 P.M. ET: With 96% of the Pennsylvania vote in, Pat Toomey is now leading Joe Sestak 52-48%.   Keep fingers crossed.  In Illinois, with 91% of the vote in, Republican Mark Kirk leads the Democrat whose name I can't spell, 48-46%. 

11:07 P.M. ET:  Pat Toomey has just pulled ahead, 51-49%, in the Pennsylvania Senate race against Democrat Joe Sestak, with 94% of the vote in.  Hold onto your seats.

UPDATE:  The race has pulled even again, 50-50.  I am concerned about those last-minute votes that may come in from Philadelphia. 

11:01 P.M. ET:  Well, I guess it was a pipe dream.  Fox News is projecting that Barbara Boxer has defeated Carly Fiorina for the California Senate seat.  Boxer, one of the more useless senators in American history, will return to Washington for a fourth term.  Fox also projects that Jerry Brown, who has been in American politics since Noah built his ark, has been elected governor, a job he held before we had home computers.  Nostalgia rules.

10:57 P.M. ET:  In Pennsylvania, the vote count in the Senate race between Republican Pat Toomey and Dem Joe Sestak is dead even, with 92% of the ballots counted.  As in Illinois, we worry about big-city votes suddenly appearing.  Stand by for a recount.

10:55 P.M. ET:  Mark Kirk has just taken a slight lead in the Illinois vote count for the U.S. Senate seat held by Barack Obama.  We caution, however:  The lead is only one percent, with 78% of the vote counted.  We don't know how many votes the Chicago Democratic machine is holding in reserve.  Stand by.  I can feel the sleaze already.

10:45 P.M. ET:  Fox News projects that Tea Party Republican Nikki Haley will become the next governor of South Carolina, defeating Vincent Sheheen.  Haley was one of Sarah Palin's first picks during this election campaign.  She was subjected to terrible smears, but has now prevailed. 

10:40 P.M. ET:  Republican Ron Johnson has defeated incumbent Russ Feingold for the U.S. Senate seat from Wisconsin.  This is a major turnover for the Republicans.

At the same time, I'm bittersweet over this.  I want to see good, decent people in Congress in both parties.  John McCain paid tribute to Feingold earlier this evening.  He's a fine, honorable man, who never had a whiff of scandal about him.  He leaves a good name and an enviable reputation.  I learned early in my career, when I was on the staff of Democratic Senator Paul Douglas of Illinois, to respect those in the opposition who conduct themselves with distinction.  That defines Russ Feingold.  s 

10:27 P.M. ET:  I've been following the Senate races in Illinois and Pennsylvania.  Happy to report that Republicans Mark Kirk in Illinois and Pat Toomey in Pennsylvania are catching up in the vote count.  I can't guarantee they'll win, but we have grounds for cautious optimism at this hour.  It depends on where the remaining votes will come from. 

10:18 P.M. ET:  In Ohio, the governor ship race between incumbent Ted Strickland and Republican John Kasich is still very close at this hour, but Kasich is pulling head.  Governors are important to the redistricting process, which will result from the 2010 Census.  Ohio is a critical state.

10:03 P.M. ET:  Deval Patrick, ally of President Obama, has been reelected governor of Massachusetts.  Coupe Deval, as he's sometimes called because of his extravagant tastes, was thought to be beatable, but this is Massachusetts.  Also in Massachusetts, Barney Frank has been easily reelected, despite a stiff challenge. 

9:47 P.M. ET:  We are watching, with worries, the Senate races in Illinois and Pennsylvania.  In both races the Republicans had been slightly ahead in the polls as of yesterday, but Democrats are leading in the current count.  However, we don't know from TV reports where the votes are coming from.  Stand by on these two races.  They're critical. 

9:43 P.M. ET:  In New York, invisible U.S. Senator Kirsten Gillibrand, appointed to fill out the Senate term of Hillary Clinton, has been elected in her own right.  She was eminently beatable, but the GOP, once again, put up a weak candidate, assuring that the seat would stay in Democratic hands.  Gillibrand could walk down the street of a New York town or city and not be recognized.

9:16 P.M. ET:  BULLETIN:  CNN PROJECTS THAT THE REPUBLICANS WILL TAKE CONTROL OF THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES.

9:06 P.M. ET:  Rand Paul, the new senator from Kentucky, is making his victory speech.  Well, I guess I'm glad he won, but my enthusiasm is restrained.  I don't consider him a conservative.  More of a reactionary.  His father, Ron Paul, is the eccentric congressman from Texas, and something of a conspiracy theorist. Let's hope the apple fell far from the tree. 

9:02 P.M. ET:  Republican Rick Snyder has been elected governor of Michigan, replacing Democrat Jennifer Granholm.  That is a big deal in a major union state.

8:51 P.M. ET:  The trends so far:  Republicans appear to be having a very strong night in House races, but a so-so night in Senate contests.  There have been no positive shockers for the GOP in the Senate.  Moral of the story:  Weak candidates don't win elections, and Republicans haven't exactly had top talent in some of these races.  But stand by for the rest of the evening.  Ya never know.

8:46 P.M. ET:  Ah, satisfaction.  In Florida's 8th Congressional District, obnoxious incumbent blowhard Alan Grayson has been defeated by Republican Daniel Webster, who I don't think is the dictionary guy, but knows words.

8:39 P.M. ET:  BULLETIN:  According to Fox News, Democrat Joe Manchin has defeated Republican John Raese for the United States Senate seat from West Virginia.  This is a major setback for the Republicans, who'd hoped to grab the seat held by Robert Byrd. 

But Raese was a problematical candidate who seemed to live more in Florida than in West Virginia, and Manchin is a popular governor who ran againt Barack Obama.  The Democratic win makes it virtually impossible for the GOP to take control of the Senate. 

West Virginia is the first close Senate race to be decided. 

8:33 P.M. ET:  Republican Kelly Ayotte has been elected to the Senate from New Hampshire, retaining for the GOP the seat being vacated by Judd Gregg.

8:31 P.M. ET:  As expected, John Boozman has defeated incumbent Democrat Blanche Lincoln for the U.S. Senate seat from Arkansas.  A turnover.

8:10 P.M. ET:  There are all kinds of early predictions being made.  Drudge is predicing 50+ gains for the GOP in the House and 7+ in the Senate.  Stay calm.  It's early, and much too early to make such sweeping predictions.  But so far the pollsters' general script is being followed.

8:03 P.M. ET:  A couple of disappointments, although expected:  Democratic candidate Richard Blumenthal has been elected to the Senate from Connecticut, retaining the seat for his party being vacated by Chris Dodd.  He is defeating wrestling executive Linda McMahon, who could not overcome the image of the wrestling business. 

In Delaware, Fox projects that Christine O'Donnell has been defeated by Democrat Chris Coons.  The Dems thus retain the seat vacated by Joe Biden.  However, I'd be curious to see how close Christine comes.  She was treated with gross unfairness by the mainstream media and by the GOP establishment. 

8:01 P.M. ET:  Marco Rubio has, as expected, been elected to the Senate from Florida, and instantly becomes a national figure.  He would, if selected for a national ticket in 2012, be the first Hispanic to be so chosen.  Rubio is getting 50% in a three-way race, a spectacular showing. 

7:59 P.M. ET:  In South Carolina, Nikki Haley, one of the first candidates anointed by Sarah Palin, is in a very tight race for the governorship.  No winner yet.  If she wins, Haley could become a GOP star.

7:56 P.M. ET:  Republican Rob Portman has been elected to the Senate from Ohio, as expected.  That's a GOP hold.  Senate Judiciary Committee Chairman Patrick Leahy has been reelected from Vermont, where they eat healthy food.

7:46 P.M. ET:  Exit polling results released thus far indicate that the election is going pretty much as the pollsters predicted.  Turnout among some Democratic groups, like African Americans or young voters, is depressed.  Exit polls show the kind of dissatisfaction with the Obama administration that we've been seeing in pre-election polls.  This bodes well for us tonight.

I live in a Democratic district.  When we went to vote we were the only voters there.  The poll watchers were delighted to have us.  We signed autographs.

7:01 P.M. ET:  Polls are now closed in Indiana and Kentucky.  Fox projects that Republican Rand Paul has been elected to the Senate from Kentucky in what was becoming a close race.  That is a GOP hold.

Fox also projects that Dan Coats, a former U.S. senator, has been elected to the Senate from Indiana.  That is a GOP pickup of the seat vacated by moderate Democrat Evan Bayh.

IT'S 7 P.M. ET:  AND WE'LL NOW BEGIN OUR ELECTION-NIGHT BLOGGING.  STAY WITH US.

SNIPPET OF THE DAY – AT 6:47 P.M. ET:

Worried that you've been a victim of voter fraud? Sadly, there's an app for that.

Concerned by growing reports of voter fraud before the elections, Austin James decided to do something. James, the director of new media for American Majority Action, released Voter Fraud for the iPhone, Blackberry and Android platforms about a week ago. Since then, more than 8,000 people have downloaded the app -- and he's received 50 reports of election impropriety.

Talk about a sign of the times.  Sobering.

November 2, 2010       Permalink

AND IN THE REAL WORLD – AT 9:25 A.M. ET:  Let us not forget what's out there, and what those elected today will have to deal with.  From Fox:

After two explosives-laden packages were sent from Yemen to the United States last week, federal authorities began to piece together what they now believe was a dry run of the plot more than a month earlier, according to a U.S. official with knowledge of the situation.

The nation’s top counterterrorism officials, including Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano and White House counterterrorism adviser John Brennan, have said the latest attacks bear all the hallmarks of Al Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula, or AQAP, the same Yemen-based group that sent Umar F. Ambdulmuttalab to blow up a jetliner over Detroit last Christmas Day.

Less than two months ago, in September, the U.S. intelligence community received a tip indicating that a suspicious package from Yemen was heading for Chicago, but when law enforcement officials tracked down and checked the package, all they found was a box from Yemen filled with religious books, according to the official.

U.S. intelligence didn’t know what to make of the tip or the package, but after a new issue of an AQAP magazine aimed at Westerners included an image of Chicago’s skyline, officials began to wonder whether terrorists could be looking to strike Chicago next, the U.S official said.

The most recent tip from Saudi Arabian intelligence, indicating two active bombs from Yemen heading to the United States aboard cargo planes, prompted federal officials to begin wondering whether the episode in September was a dry run for the latest plot, the U.S. official said. They now believe the September package was used to track how a shipment gets from Yemen to Chicago, and to help determine how long such a trek would take, as ABC News first reported.

COMMENT:  We should praise the good work of our intelligence people, while realizing that our luck won't hold forever.  We still must wonder whether last weekend's attempt was a well-timed effort at affecting our elections.  I can't believe the timing was coincidental.

November 2, 2010      Permalink 

FOCUS ON THE WHITE HOUSE – AT 8:55 A.M. ET:  What will President Obama do tomorrow morning, if the dire predictions about today come true?  Fox News reports:

Some high-level Democrats are calling for President Barack Obama to remake his inner circle or even fire top advisers in response to what many party strategists expect to be a decisive defeat on Tuesday.

Tensions have come to the surface after meetings over the past few weeks in which Obama senior adviser David Axelrod discussed communications strategy with senior Democratic strategists and party officials. Some Democrats were so unhappy with the White House meetings, they started their own.

The strategy sessions aired a range of disagreements over how to help Democrats forestall an electoral drubbing at the polls—a defeat party strategists believe could have been minimized with a different White House playbook.

Among the complaints: Obama conveyed an incoherent message that didn't express what Democrats would do over the next two years if they retain power; he focused more on his own image than helping Democratic candidates; and the White House picked the wrong battle when it attacked Republicans for using "outside" money to pay for campaigns, an issue disconnected from voters' real-world anxieties.

The latest strategy session took place Monday afternoon.

COMMENT:  Yeah.  I like the one about Obama focusing more on his own image than helping his fellow Dems.  What else is new?  The guy has an ego that can fill a barn. 

There are going to be a lot more strategy sessions.  You can be sure that the people in the White House are, today, thinking back to election day two years ago and wondering where it all went wrong.  And they'll be remembering the famous plaque on President Truman's Oval Office desk:  "The buck stops here." 

Yes it does.  Yes it does.  And every president, save the one in power right now, came to realize that.

November 2, 2010      Permalink

TRAVEL NEWS – AT 8:43 A.M. ET:   We're such a full-service site, aware of the comings and goings of the famous.  Just thought you'd like to know the latest, from Toby Harnden of London's Telegraph:

Hillary Clinton, the US Secretary of State, will be several thousand miles away from American shores on election day in a move some are interpreting as a deliberate way of literally distancing herself from the result.

Oh, oh, oh.  Would our little Hillary think that way?  These nasty journalists!

Although former President Bill Clinton has held more than 100 election events, his wife is unable to campaign because of her foreign policy role. She is currently on a two-week tour of Asia and Australasia that includes stops in Vietnam, Cambodia, China, Malaysia, Papua New Guinea, New Zealand and Australia.

In Siem Reap in Cambodia yesterday, Mrs Clinton met a group of about 50 victims of human trafficking at an American-funded facility and promised continued American support.

Look, maybe the trip just had to be scheduled around a losing election day.  The fact that the future (she hopes) president is halfway around the world today is sheer coincidence.  Don't you think?  You do, don't you?

"I am so proud of you," she told the young women, former prostitutes who were mostly aged between 17 and 23. At the facility, they receive an education and vocational training including weaving and sewing lessons.

The same kind of training a lot of Democratic members of Congress will be needing tomorrow morning.

I'm so upset that anyone would think that our secretary of state would have some ulterior motive for being out of the country.  Is there no decency left?

November 2, 2010      Permalink

NOTHING, NOTHING, NOTHING – AT 8:18 A.M. ET:  It is election day, the day we've looked forward to since...the last election day.  And nothing is happening.  Nothing, nothing, nothing.  If you don't believe me, go to The Politico and read all the warmed-over nothing stories. 

It's waiting time.  Maybe there'll be some last-minute polls, but they're not up yet.  We wait for the returns.  While we wait, these are things we want to observe:  1) turnout.  How large is the turnout compared with past midterms?  Where is that turnout?  Who is coming to vote?  2) tone.  Is there a tone to those on the voting lines?  Anger?  Enthusiasm?  3) weather.  Are there weather patterns in some areas that might affect critical elections?  There is "Democratic" weather and "Republican" weather, depending on the area.  4) Voter fraud.  Don't be shocked if the charges start to fly.  Watch for fraud charges involving new, digital voting machines.  5)  Family reunions.  If you're in Chicago, be warmed and moved by the number of dearly departed relatives who show up at the polls to show they're still interested.

November 2, 2010     Permalink